Vacuum clearer for drawing frames



Oct 1955 A, E. BUCHANAN 1n, ET AL 2,719,335

VACUUM CLEARER FOR DRAWING FRAMES Filed March 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l MRI-311N452 ANDREW E. BucHANAN,I[I

and Dunn RGREEN.

Oct. 4, 1955 A. E. BUCHANAN 11!, ET AL 2,719,335

VACUUM CLEARER FOR DRAWING FRAMES 4 Sheets-Shee"v 2 Filed March 16, 1955 and DucK R.GREEN.

AT'H )RNEY S 06L 1955 A. E. BUCHANAN 11!, ET AL 2,719,335

VACUUM CLEARER FOR DRAWING FRAMES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 16, 1953 ENTORS:

and DICK R.GREEN.

ANDREW E. BUQHANANJIE ATTURNEYS 06L 1955 A. E. BUCHANAN m, ET AL 2,719,335

VACUUM CLEARER FOR DRAWING FRAMES Filed March 16, 1953 4 ShcetsShu;L 4

United States Patent Orifice 2,719,335 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 VACUUh/I CLEARER FOR DRAWING FRAMES Andrew E. Buchanan III, Charlotte, and Dick R. Green, Raeford, N. C.

Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,532

14 Claims. (Cl. 19-139) This invention relates to an improved apparatus for preventing loose fibers, lint and the like from collecting on textile rolls, such as those associated with drawing frames, spinning frames and the like, and for conveying such loose fibers, lint and the like away from the drafting zone.

It is a well known fact that, in the drafting of fibrous textile strands, such as is performed in roving frames, drawing frames, spinning frames and the like, loose fibers, lint and small particles of foreign matter ordinarily collect on the top and bottom drafting rolls to the extent that they form into bunches which are subsequently cast off by the rolls and carried along by the strands being processed, thus resulting in slubs, clots, and thick uneven places in the strand.

Various attempts have been made to perfect a clearing mechanism, and, to our knowledge, such clearing mechanisms have been provided for the top rolls only and were in the form of wipers which were made from a sheet of fibrous material or one or more rolls covered with a plush or fibrous material. The sheet of fibrous material or the plush covered rolls rested in engagement with the top rolls and collected loose fibers and the like therefrom. However, although such clearing mechanisms currently in use have collected fibers and the like thereon, they have to be cleaned periodically or the excess fibers thereon would fall therefrom back onto the strands being processed, thus defeating their purpose.

It is an object of this invention to overcome such defects by providing an improved clearing apparatus for drafting or drawing rolls, wherein fibrous strands are attenuated between serially arranged sets of top and bottom 'rolls driven at progressively increasing speeds, comprising an upper and lower set of wiping devices which engage the upper surfaces of the proximal portions of adjacent top rolls and the lower surfaces of the proximal portions of adjacent bottom rolls, respectively, with an enclosure for the sets of top and bottom wiping devices to which a suction means in connected and whereby any loose fibers, lint, fly and other foreign matter is removed from the corresponding rolls by the wiping devices and, upon removal of the loose fibers and the like, the suction means carries the fibers away from the rolls to points remote from the drafting zone.

It is another object of this invention to provide a roll clearing apparatus of the character described wherein the upper and lower wiping devices are permitted to float and thereby seek their own position relative to the corresponding drafting rolls and wherein the enclosures for the wiping devices are in the form of hoods which overlie and underlie the respective upper and lower sets of wiping devices. Each of the hoods has flanges on opposite side edges thereof provided with a suitable sealing means thereon, which sealing means engages opposite ends of the corresponding wipers of each of the upper and lower wiper assemblies thereby forming a sealed air chamber above and below the respective sets of upper and lower wiper assemblies.

Each of the chambers has a conduit com municatively connected thereto which extends to a common suction pipe or tube for conveying the loose lint, fibers and other matter which is dislodged by the wiping devices, to points remote from the drafting zone.

It is evident that each roll section of a drawing frame or the like would be provided with an apparatus of the character described and the conveying pipe or tube having suction means associated therewith would be common to all of the clearing apparatuses associated with all of the roll sections of a common machine.

In the description, the terms longitudinal and trans verse shall generally apply to the relationship of various parts with respect to the direction of movement of the strands between the rolls of the drafting mechanism, although the rolls extend longitudinally of the machine.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- 7 Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a drawing frame or the like showing the improved clearing apparatus mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, mostly in elevation taken substantially along the line 2--2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation, partly in section, taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figure .2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, but being taken substantially along the line 55 in F igure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Figure 3 and showing the corresponding top and bottom rolls in elevation with the central portions thereof broken away; V

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the improved clearer apparatus looking in the general direction of the arrow 7 in Figure 1, but omitting the rolls, and the upper hood of the apparatus being broken away to clearly illustrate the upper and lower wiper assemblies.

In the drawings, the improved clearing apparatus is shown in association with a textile drawing frame, although it is to be understood that the improved clearer apparatus may be used in association with any type of textile machine having rolls for attenuating or drafting fibrous strands, such as a spinning frame, roving frame or the like. Also, the drawing frame shown in the drawings is provided with four sets of top and bottom drafting rolls, but it is to be understood that a greater or lesser number of sets of drafting rolls may be employed, as desired, and the improved apparatus may be adapted to accommodate any desired number of sets of top and bottom drafting rolls without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The sets of top and bottom drafting rolls include a first set of top and bottom rolls 10 and 11 commonly termed as feed rolls, second and third sets of top and bottom rolls 12 and 13 and 14 and 15 which may be termed as intermediate rolls, and a fourth set of top and bottom rolls 16 and 17 which may be termed as delivery rolls. As is usually the case, the bottom rolls 11, 13, 15 and 17 are shown as being fluted, for a substantial part of the length thereof and the top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16 are shown as being smooth and are preferably provided with a resilient covering, such as rubber, leather, plastic or the like. However, there are instances in which the top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16 may also be fluted.

Opposite ends of each of the bottom rolls 11, 13, 15 and 17 are provided with roller necks 20 of substantially less diameter than the rolls 11, 13, 15 and 17, which roller necks are rotatably supported in substantially U-shaped bearing blocks 21, there being a row of spaced bearing blocks 21 disposed on each side of each roll section and each row of the bearing blocks 21 being adjustably secured to a corresponding common roll stand 23. Two of the roll stands 23 are shown in the drawings, although it is well known that a row of spaced roll stands 23 is provided which extends for substantially the length of the drawing frame and these roll stands 23 are suitably secured to a common longitudinally extending frame member 24.

As is well known, the bottom rolls 11, 13, and 17 are driven by conventional means, not shown, at progressively increasing speed from the feed roll 13 to the delivery roll 17 whereby strands, generally designated at S, are successively, additionally attenuated or drafted between the rolls 11, 13, 15 and 17 in the usual manner. Each of the roll stands 23 is provided with a conventional rearwardly projecting portion 26 to the upper surface of which a conventional horizontal plate or apron 27 is suitably secured.

The top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16 each has reduced opposite end portions 30 which are rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 31 whose end portions are mounted for vertical sliding movement in the U-shaped bearing blocks 21. Of course, the top rolls are driven generally through their relationship to the bottom rolls and through the intervening strands S. The top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16 are resiliently urged downwardly against the respective bottom rolls 11, 13, 15 and 17 by corresponding weight hooks 32 which bear against the bearings 31 and extend downwardly beneath the bottom rolls and are connected to suitable weight means. The weight means may be of any desired or conventional type and are, therefore, not shown.

Slivers, rovings, or other fibrous strands S pass between the top and bottom rear rolls or feed rolls 10 and 11 and forwardly and out from between the front or delivery top and bottom rolls 16 and 17. It often happens that lint and other foreign matter is picked up by the top and bottom rolls, and it is collected thereon into slubs or bunches which are later transferred back into the strands S passing between the top and bottom rolls. An improved apparatus will now be described which is adapted to be associated with a drafting mechanism of the character heretofore described, for removing excess lint and other foreign matter collected by the top and bottom rolls and conveying the same to points remote from the drafting zone.

In Figure 1, there is one complete roll section illustrated and the parts of the improved apparatus associated therewith will be described. A portion of an adjacent roll section is also illustrated in Figure 1 and the parts thereof which correspond to the parts shown in the roll section which is completely illustrated will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added thereto.

The improved clearing apparatus, which may also be termed as a scavenger apparatus, comprises upper and lower wiper assemblies respectively broadly designated at 36 and 37 and each of which includes a plurality of resilient or pliable wipers or wiper elements which extend in substantially parallel relation to the rolls and are disposed therebetween. In this instance, each of the wiper assemblies 36 and 37 includes three of the wiper elements, the upper wiper elements being indicated at 411, 41 and 42 and the lower wiper elements being indicated at 43, 44 and 45. It is evident that the number of wiper elements in each of the wiper assemblies 36 and 37 may vary according to the number of sets of top and bottom rolls.

Each of the wiper elements 40 to 45, inclusive, is preferably of substantially the same length as the enlarged central portions of the corresponding top and bottom rolls and is made from a relatively thin resilient or pliable material such as leather, rubber, felt or the like. It will be observed in Figure 4 that the wiper elements to 45, inclusive, are of progressively increasing width from the delivery rolls 16 and 17 to those wipers disposed adjacent the feed rolls 10 and 11, since it is well known that the distance between adjacent sets of top and bottom rolls progressively increases from the foremost rolls to the rearmost rolls in accordance with the length of staple of the material from which the strands S are formed. Of course, the widths of the wiper elements 40 to 45, inclusive, may all be the same or may vary, as desired, in accordance with the spacing between adjacent sets of top and bottom rolls.

The wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 rest upon and extend between the proximal upper portions of adjacent top rolls so that, in this instance, the rear and front portions of the rear wiper element 40 rest upon the top rolls 10 and 12, the rear and front portions of the intermediate wiper element 41 rest upon the proximal portions of the top rolls 12 and 14 and the rear and front portions of the wiper element 42 rest upon the proximal portions of the top rolls 14 and 16.

On the other hand, the rear portions of the respective lower wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 associated with the lower wiper assembly 37 bear against the lower surfaces of the bottom rolls 11, 13 and 15 while the front edge portions thereof are usually caused to turn upwardly, as best shown in Figure 4, due to rotation of the bottom rolls 13, 15 and 17 in a clockwise direction in Figure 4 and, in which instance, the front surfaces of the upturned front portions of the bottom wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 engage the rear lower portions of the respective bottom rolls 13, 15 and 17.

Now, each of the upper resilient or pliable wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 is suitably secured to the upper surface of a rigid support member in the form of a relatively thin and broad bar 50, by means of a rigid plate 51 and bolts or screws 52. The plates 51 are preferably of greater width than the support bars disposed beneath the upper wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 and are preferably of a width only slightly less than that of the width of the corresponding upper Wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 so the central portions of the wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 are maintained rigid while the opposite rear and front edge portions thereof are free to conform themselves to the shape of the portions of the top rolls engaged thereby.

The lower wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 of the lower wiper assembly 37 are also suitably secured to the lower surfaces of rigid support members which are preferably in the form of relatively thin elongated substantially rectangular bars 53. The lower wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 are each secured to a corresponding one of the bars 53 by means of a plate 55 and screws or bolts 56. The supports or bars 53 and plates 55' of the lower wiper assembly 37 are also preferably of such width that the rear and front portions of the corresponding wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 are free to conform to the curvature of the corresponding bottom rolls.

The supports or bars 50 and 53 and the rigid plates 51 and 55 are also preferably of substantially the same length as the corresponding wiper elements 40 to 45, inclusive. Opposite ends of each of the upper wiper support bars 50 have downwardly projecting portions 57 and 58 thereon, which are preferably centrally disposed and which extend outwardly, as best shown in Figures 4 and 7, and each of which is provided with a horizontal adjustment slot 61 in the outer end thereof. These projections 57 and 58 are preferably offset relative to the upper surfaces of the bars 50 in order to clear the flanges of the upper hood as will be later described.

The adjustment slot 61 in each of the outwardly projecting portions of each bar or upper wiper support 50 is penetrated by a bolt 62. The bolts 62 also penetrate vertically extending slots 63 in the vertical legs of corresponding substantially inverted L-shaped brackets 64 and 65 The horizontal leg of each of the inverted L.- shaped brackets 64 is penetrated by a bolt 66 and the horizontal leg of each of the inverted L-shaped brackets 65 is penetrated by a bolt 67. Each of the bolts 66 penetrates a forwardly and rearwardly extending slot 70 in a common forwardly and rearwardly extending upper wiper frame bar 71 and each of the bolts 67 penetrates a forwardly and rearwardly extending slot 72 in a common upper wiper frame bar 73. These upper wiper frame bars 71 and 73 are spaced astride opposite ends of the wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 and extend above the reduced portions 30 of the top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16.

It is thus seen that the upper wiper assembly 36 is supported solely by the felt, rubber or leather wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 resting upon the proximal portions of adjacent top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16 and whereby the combined weight of all of the parts 50, 51, S7, 58, 60, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 71 and 73 exert downward pressure on the wiper elements 40, 41 and 42, with the result that the wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 snugly engage the top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16 during rotation thereof and assist in removing any lint or other foreign matter from the top rolls. Due to rotation of the top rolls, which is in a counter-clockwise direction in Figures 2 and 5, the lint and other foreign matter is caused to pass between the portions of the wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 in engagement therewith, whereupon the lint and other foreign matter is drawn away from the wiper elements by a suction means to be later described.

It is evident that the slots 61 in the outwardly projecting portions 57 and 58 of the upper wiper support bars 50 facilitate longitudinal adjustment of the wiper elements 40, 41 and 42, the slots 63 in the vertical legs of the inverted L-shaped brackets 64 and 65 facilitate relative vertical adjustment between the wipers 40, 41 and 42 and the forwardly, and rearwardly extending slots 70 and 72 in the common frame members 71 and 73 facilitate adjustment of the distance between adjacent wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 in accordance with any variations in spacing between the top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16.

The lower wiper assembly 37 is constructed in substantially the same manner as the upper wiper assembly 36. To this end, opposite ends of each of the lower wiper support members or bars 53 have projections 77 and 78 thereon, which are preferably centrally disposed between the front and rear edges of each of the bars or supports 53, and which extend outwardly beyond opposite ends of the corresponding bars or supports 53. The outer end of each of the projections 77 is provided with a horizontal slot 81 therein which is penetrated by a bolt 82. Each of the bolts 82 penetrates a vertically extending slot 83 in the vertical leg of a corresponding L-shaped bracket. Each of the L-shaped brackets ad= jacent the projections 77 is indicated at 84 and each of the L-shaped brackets adjacent the projections 78 is indicated at 85.

The horizontal legs of the brackets 84 and 85 are penetrated by respective bolts 86 and 87 which penetrate respective forwardly and rearwardly extending adjustment slots 90 and 92 provided in respective forwardly and rearwardly extending lower wiper frame members or bars 91 and 93. The lower wiper frame members or bars 91 and 93 are spaced astride opposite ends of the lower wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 and extend in a substantially horizontal plane beneath the roller necks of the bottom rolls 11, 13, 15 and 17.

It is thus seen that the bolts 82, 86 and 87 facilitate adjustment of the lower wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 in substantially the same manner as the bolts 62-, 66 and 67 facilitate adjustment of the upper wiper elements 40, 41 and 42. The lower wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 of the wiper assembly 37 are urged upwardly into engagement with the corresponding bottom rolls by any suitable means such as compression springs 95, there preferably being two of the compression springs 95 bearing upwardly against the lower surfaces of the foremost and rearmost of the rigid plates 55, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The lower ends of the compression springs 95 bear against the upper surface of a substantially horizontally disposed bottom wall of a lower hood broadly designated at 101. The bottom wall 100 of the lower hood 101 is preferably substantially rectangular in plan and underlies the fluted portions of all of the bottom rolls 11, 13, 15 and 17. An upper hood broadly designated at 102 is provided with a top or upper wall 103 which is also preferably substantially rectangular in plan and is of a width substantially slightly greater than that of the enlarged central portions or bosses of the top rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16.

The rear ends of the lower and .upper hoods 101 and 102 are suitably pivotally supported in any desired manner and, in this instance, the lower surface of the bottom wall 100 of the lower hood 101 has a groove therein which extends in substantially parallel relation to the bottom feed roll 11 and which is defined by a pair of closely spaced bars or plates 104 and 105 suitably secured to the lower surface of the bottom wall 100 of the lower hood 101. The plates or bars 104 and 105 are adapted to fit astride the upper edges of a vertically disposed pivot plate or block 106 which is shown in the form of an angle bar in Figures 2 and 3.

It will be observed in Figure 3 that opposite end portions of the vertical flange of the angle bar 106 are cut away and opposite ends of the horizontal flange of the angle bar 106 extend beyond the vertical flange thereof and are bent downwardly, as at 107. These downwardly bent portions of the horizontal flange of the angle bar 106 are suitably secured to the proximal surfaces of adjacent roll stands 23, as by screws 110. It is thus seen that the rear portion of the lower hood 101 may pivot on the upper edge of the vertical flange of the angle bar 106.

The rear end of the hood 101 is open. However, the front end thereof is closed by a front wall 111, opposite ends of which are suitably secured to, or integral with, side flanges or walls 112 which extend upwardly from the bottom wall 100 of the hood 101 and whose upper edges terminate on a horizontal plane substantially the same as that normally occupied by the lower wiper elements 43, 44 and 45. The inner or proximal surfaces of the upwardly projecting side flanges of the lower hood 101 are preferably coated with a fibrous material 113 to form an air seal between the portions of the flanges 112 contiguous to the opposite ends of the resilient wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 and the contiguous portions of the bottom rolls 11, 13, 15 and 17. The fibrous seals 113 may be in the form of loose fibers adhesively applied to the inner proximal surfaces, and possibly the upper edges, of the side flanges 112 of the lower hood 101 or strips of felt material, plush fabric, sponge rubber or any other soft or yieldable material may be applied to the proximal and upper surfaces of the side flanges 112 of the lower hood 101.

It will be noted that the upper edge of the vertical flange of the angle bar 106 is so positioned that the upper surface of the wall 100 of the lower hood 101 is spaced substantially beneath the feed rolls 11 and, in order to maintain the front portion of the upper wall 100 of the hood 101' in spaced relation beneath the delivery roll 17, and to also serve the two-fold purpose of wiping the lower front portion of the delivery roll 17 and maintaining a seal between the lower front portion of the delivery roll 17 and the interior of the lower hood 101, the portions of the flanges 112 of the lower hood 101, forwardly of the bottom delivery roll 17, each has an upwardly projecting portion 115 and these upwardly projecting portions 115 are spanned by a plate 116 suitably securedto the proximal surfaces thereof. The rear edge of the plate 116 is beveled downwardly and rearwardly, as at 117 (Figure and a sheet of resilient material 120, which may be formed from leather, rubber or any desired material, is suitably secured to the upper surface of the plate 116 and the beveled surface 117 of the plate 116, thus forming a wiper for the front lower portion of the bottom delivery roll 17.

The wiper 120 is urged into engagement with the bottom delivery roll 17 by tension springs 121, there being two such tension springs shown for the lower hood 101. The lower end of each tension spring 121 is connected to a spring anchor 122 projecting outwardly from the front Wall 111 of the lower hood 101. The springs 121 extend upwardly and their upper ends are connected to suitable spring anchors 123 suitably secured to, and projecting forwardly from, the top wall 103 of the upper hood 102. The upper hood 102 is also constructed similar to the lower hood 101 and has downwardly projecting flanges 124 on opposite side edges thereof whose lower edges terminate substantially on the same level as that normally occupied by the upper wiper elements 40, 41 and 42. The proximal surfaces of the side flanges of the upper hood 102 are also provided with a suitable air seal 125 which serves the same purpose as the air seal 113 secured to the flanges 112 of the lower hood 101.

The front end of the upper hood 102 is also closed by a front wall 126 which spans the distance between and is suitably secured to the front edges of the flanges 124 and the top wall 103 of the hood 102. The front portions of the side flanges 124 of the upper hood 102 are also provided with downwardly projecting portions 127 thereon which are disposed forwardly of the top delivery roll 16 and which are spanned by a plate 130 suitably secured to the proximal surfaces of the downwardly projecting portions of the side flanges or walls 124 of the upper hood 102. The plate 130 is also beveled upwardly and rearwardly at an angle, as at 132, and the lower surfaces of the plate 130 and the beveled portion 132 thereof have a suitable resilient or pliable wiper material 133 adhesively or otherwise secured thereto. Thus, the beveled portion of the front roll wiper 133 is also urged into engagement with the front upper portion of the top delivery roll 16 by means of the tension springs 121 heretofore described.

The rear end of the hood 102 is also pivotally supported and, in this instance, the rear end of the upper hood 102 has pivot or hinge pins 136 and 137 connected thereto, in a manner to be presently described, and whose medial portions are each oscillatably mounted in a bearing block 140 carried by a standard 141 which extends downwardly through the front portion of the apron 27 and is suitably secured to the upper surface of the corresponding roll stand 23.

It is evident, in Figure 1, that the portions of the pivot pins 136 and 137 remote from the upper hood 102 heretofore described in association with a particular roll section may also be connected to hoods similar to the hood 102 associated with adjacent roll sections, if desired. The pivot pin 136 is connected to the upper surface of the upper wall 103 of the upper hood 102 by means of a pivot block 143 suitably secured to the plate 103 and the proximal end of the pin 137 penetrates the vertical Wall or flange of the rear portion of a duct or channel member 142.

It will be observed in Figures 4 and 5 that the duct or channel member 142 is suitably secured to, or integral with, the upper surface of the wall 103 of the upper hood 102 and extends forwardly from adjacent one side edge of the upper wall 103 to the front edge of the wall 103 at a point substantially centrally of the front wall 126 of the upper hood 102. The front wall 126 of the upper hood 102 has an upwardly projecting closure portion 144 integral therewith which serves as a front wall for the front end of the duct or channel member 142.

The wall 103 of the hood 102 is provided with a substantially centrally disposed opening 145 (Figure 5) at the front edge thereof which establishes communication between the interior of the hood and the front end of the duct or channel member 142. A lower channel member or duct 146 is also suitably secured to the lower surface of the wall 100 of the lower hood 101 and is closed at its front end by a downwardly projecting closure portion 147 integral with the front wall 111 of the hood 101.

The duct or channel member 146 preferably extends forwardly and rearwardly along the median longitudinal center of the wall 100 of the hood 101 and the Wall 100 is provided with an opening 150 at the front end thereof which establishes communication between the interior of the hood 101 and the channel member or duct 146. It is thus seen that a chamber is provided between the upper wiper elements 40, 41 and 42 and the lower surface of the wall 103 of the upper hood 102 and a chamber is also formed between the lower wiper elements 43, 44 and 45 and the upper surface of the wall 100 of the lower hood 101. Any desired suction arrangement may be connected to the rear ends of the ducts or channel members 142 and 146, which rear ends extend rearwardly beyond the corresponding hoods 102 and 101, and, in this instance, flexible pipes or tubes 152 and 153 are connected at their upper ends to the rear ends of the respective ducts or channel members 142 and 146.

The apron 127 is provided with a plurality of openings 155 at the front edge thereof, there being one of these openings for each of the flexible conduits, tubes or pipes 152 and 153, and the lower ends of the pipes, conduits or tubes 152 and 153 are communicatively connected to a common suction device shown in the form of a pipe 156 (Figure 5) which may be disposed at any desired location relative to the drawing frame, but is shown as being suitably secured to the rear surface of the longitudinal frame member 24 in Figure 5. This pipe 156 may be connected to the usual vacuum system provided in most mills for directing lint, other fibers and foreign matter to a common place in the mill.

Of course, it is evident that an individual suction means or blower may be associated with a pipe 156 associated with each drawing frame, spinning frame or the like, and which will induce vacuum currents in the chambers defined by the hoods 102 and 101 and will thereby withdraw the excess lint, fibers and other foreign matter, removed from the top and bottom rolls by the wiper elements 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45, into the corresponding ducts or channel members 142 and 146, through the pipes 152 and 153 and through the common pipe 156 for directing the lint and the like to a common receptacle which may be disposed adjacent the drawing frame or which may be disposed at points remote from the drawing frame.

By referring to Figure 1, it is evident that the pipes associated with the improved clearing apparatus of any number of sets of roll sections may be connected to the common pipe 156.

It is thus seen that we have provided an improved clearing apparatus for serially arranged sets of top and bottom rolls of a drafting mechanism including upper and lower wiper assemblies having wipers which are respectively disposed between and in engagement with adjacent top rolls and adjacent bottom rolls, with upper and lower hoods respectively overlying and underlying the respective top and bottom rolls thereby forming chambers within the hoods, with suction means connected to the front ends of the hoods so that any loose fibers or the like which are removed from the rolls by the wipers are drawn into the hoods, and in turn, drawn out of the hoods and carried to points remote from the drafting zone.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim;

1;; In a fibrous strand processing mechanism having serially spaced driven top and bottom rolls for attenuating fibrous strands therebetween; the combination of floating upper and lower wiper elements bridging and airsealing the space between the respective upper and lower surfaces of adjacent rolls, upper and lower hoods respectively overlying and underlying said rolls, air seals be"- tween each hood and the ends of the rolls thus to form chambers which are closed between said wiper elements and said hoods but which have openings at each end of said chambers, one of said openings of each chamber being connected to the corresponding hood,- and suction means connected to said hoods for drawing lint and the like therefrom as it is removed from the rolls by said wiper elements.

2. In a drawing frame and the like having serially arranged sets of driven top and bottom rolls for attenuating fibrous strands therebetween; the combination of resilient upper wiper elements disposed between and engaging the proximal upper portions of adjacent top rolls, resilient lower wi'per elements disposed between and engaging the proximal lower portions of adjacent bottom rolls, said wiper elements bridging and air-sealing the space between the respective upper and lower surfaces of adjacent rolls, an upper hood overlying the top rolls, a lower hood underlying the bottom rolls, means effecting an air seal between each of the hoods and the ends of each roll, thus to form chambers which are closed between said wiper elements and said hoods but which have openings at each end of said chambers, one of said openings of each chamber being connected to the corresponding hood, and means for creating suction currents in the hoods to thereby carry lint and other fibers removed from the top and bottom rolls by the wiper elements away from the top and bottom rolls.

3. In a drawing frame and the like having serially arranged sets of driven top and bottom rolls for attenusting fibrous strands therebetween; the combination of resilient up er wiper elements bridging and air-sealing the space between the proximal upper portions of adjacent top rolls, an u per hood overlying the top rolls, means effecting an air seal between the hood and the ends of the rolls, thus to form a chamber which is closed between the wiper elements and the hood but which has an opening at each end, one of said openings being connected to said hood, and means for creating suction eurrents in the hood to there'by carry lint and other fibers removed from the rolls by the wiper elements away from the rolls.

4. In a drawing frame and the like having serially arranged sets of driven top and bottom rolls for attenw stin fibrous strands thefebetween'; the combination of resilient lower wiper elements bridging and air-sealing the space between the proximal lower portions of adjacent bottom rolls, a lower hood underlying the bottom rolls, means effecting an air seal between the hood and the ends of the rolls, thus to form a chamber which is closed between said wiper elements and the hood but which has an opening at each end, one of said openings being connected to said hood, and means for creating suction currents in the hood to thereby carry lint and other fibers removed from the rolls by the wiper elements away from the rolls.

5. In a drafting mechanism having a series of driven rolls for attenuating textile strands; the combination of 'a plurality of resilient wiper elements bridging and airsealing the space between the proximal portions of adjacent rolls, a hood disposed in spaced substantially parallel relationship to the wiper elements, said hood having side flanges thereon disposed closely adjacent opposite ends of the wiper elements to thereby form a chamber which is closed between the wiper elements and said hood but which has an opening at each end, one end of the hood thus being open and the other end of the hood being connected to one of the chamber openings, a duct disposed adjacent said hood and being communicatively connected with the portion of said hood adjacent the chamber opening, and means creating suction currents in said duct to thereby cause any fibers and the like removed from the rolls by said wiper elements to enter said chamber and to be withdrawn therefrom.

6. In a drafting mechanism, such as a drawing frame, spinning frame, roving frame and the like, having serially arranged spaced sets of driven top and bottom rolls, an upper wiper element disposed between and engaging the proximal upper portion of each adjacent pair of top rolls, a lower wiper element disposed between and engaging the proximal portions of each adjacent pair of bottom rolls, said upper wiper elements resting upon the corresponding pairs of top rolls by gravity, resilient means urging the lower wiper elements upwardly against the corresponding pairs of bottom rolls, an upper hood overlying the top rolls, a lower hood underlying the bottom rolls, means effecting an air-seal between each of the hoods and the corresponding wiper elements, and means for creating suction currents in the hoods to thereby carry the lint and other fibers removed from the top and bottom rolls by the wiper elements away from the top and bottom rolls,

7. In a drafting mechanism having serially arranged spaced sets of top and bottom rolls, the combination of a plurality of relatively thin elongated upper wiper element's, there being one each of the upper wiper elements disposed between and engaging the proximal upper portions of each adjacent pair of top rolls, a common frame supporting all of said upper wiper elements and whereby the upper wiper elements rest upon the proximal portions of adjacent sets of top rolls by gravity, a plurality of lower wiper elements one each disposed between and engaging the lower proximal portions of each adjacent pair of bottom rolls, a second common frame also supporting all of the lower wiper elements, resilient means urging said lower wiper elements upwardly into engagement with the corresponding bottom rolls, an upper hood overlying the top rolls, a lower hood underlying the bottom rolls, means pivotally supporting the rear ends of the upper and lower hoods relative to the direction of travel of strand material between the top and bottom rolls, front wiper elements carried by the proximal front portions of said hoods and engaging the corresponding front top and bottom rolls, resilient means urging the front ends of said hoods toward each other, flanges on opposite sides of said hoods and each having an air-seal on the inner surface thereof engaging opposite ends of the corresponding upper and lower wiper elements, and means for eifecting moving currents of air in a common direction within each of said hoods for carrying away lint and the like removed from the corresponding rolls by the 'wiper elements.

8. In a drafting mechanism having serially arranged spaced sets of top and bottom rolls, the combination of a plurality of relatively thin elongated upper wiper elements, there being one each of the upper wiper elements disposed between and engaging the proximal upper portions of each adjacent pair of top rolls, a common frame supporting all of said upper wiper elements and whereby the upper wiper elements rest upon the proximal portions of adjacent pairs of top rolls by gravity, a plurality of lower wiper elements one each disposed between and engaging the lower proximal portions of each adjacent pair of bottom rolls, a second common frame also supporting all of the lower wiper elements, resilient means urging said lower wiper elements upwardly into engagement with the corresponding bottom rolls an upper hood overlying the top rolls, a lower hood underlying the bottom rolls, means pivotally supporting the rear ends of the upper and lower hoods relative to the direction of travel of strand material between the top and bottom rolls, resilient means urging the front ends of said hoods toward each other,

flanges on opposite sides of said hoods and each having a seal on the inner surface thereof engaging the opposite ends of the corresponding upper and lower wiper elements, and means for effecting moving currents of air in a common direction within each of said hoods for carrying away lint and the like removed from the corresponding rolls by the wiper elements.

9. In a structure according to claim 8, said resilient means urging said hoods toward each other including at least one tension spring, means connecting the upper end of the tension spring to the upper hood and means connecting the lower end of the tension spring to the lower hood.

10. In a drafting mechanism having serially arranged spaced sets of top and bottom rolls, the combination of a plurality of relatively thin elongated floating upper wiper elements, there being one each of the upper wiper elements disposed between and engaging the proximal upper portions of adjacent sets of top rolls, a common frame supporting all of said upper wiper elements and whereby the upper wiper elements rest upon the proximal portions of adjacent sets of top rolls by gravity, a plurality of floating lower wiper elements one each disposed between adjacent sets of bottom rolls and engaging the lower proximal portions of said bottom rolls, a second common frame also supporting all of the lower wiper elements, an upper hood overlying the top rolls, a lower hood underlying the bottom rolls, means pivotally supporting the rear ends of the upper and lower hoods relative to the direction of travel of strand material between the top and bottom rolls, resilient means urging the front ends of said hoods toward each other, flanges on opposite sides of said hoods and each having a seal on the inner surface thereof engaging opposite ends of the corresponding upper and lower wiper elements, and means for effecting moving currents of air in a common direction within each of said hoods for carrying away lint and the like removed from the corresponding rolls by the wiper elements.

11. In a drafting mechanism having serially arranged spaced sets of top and bottom rolls, the combination of a plurality of relatively thin elongated floating upper wiper elements, there being one each of the upper wiper elements disposed between and engaging the proximal upper portions of adjacent sets of top rolls, a common frame supporting all of said upper wiper elements and whereby the upper wiper elements rest upon the proximal portions of adjacent sets of top rolls by gravity, a plurality of floating lower wiper elements one each disposed between adjacent sets of bottom rolls and engaging the lower proximal portions of said bottom rolls, a second common frame also supporting all of the lower wiper elements, an upper hood overlying the top rolls, a lower hood underlying the bottom rolls, means pivotally supporting the rear ends of the upper and lower hoods relative to the direction of travel of strand material between the top and bottom rolls, resilient means urging the front ends of said hoods toward each other, flanges on opposite sides of said hoods and each having a seal on the inner surface thereof engaging opposite ends of the corresponding upper and lower wiper elements, means for effecting moving currents of air in. a common direction within each of said hoods for carrying away lint and the like removed from the corresponding rolls by the wiper elements, and front wiper elements secured to the front proximal portions of said hoods and engaging the front distal portions of the foremost of said top and bottom rolls.

12. In a drafting mechanism, such as a drawing frame, spinning frame, roving frame or the like, having sets of serially arranged spaced driven top and bottom rolls, each of the top and bottom rolls having an enlarged medial portion and having reduced end portions; the combination of a plurality of pliable upper wiper elements each disposed between and engaging the proximal upper portions of adjacent top rolls, pliable lower wiper elements each disposed between and engaging the proximal lower portions of adjacent bottom rolls, said wiper elements being of substantially the same length as the enlarged medial portions of the corresponding rolls, intersecured plates engaging the outer and inner surfaces of each of said wiper elements to lend rigidity to the longitudinal central portions of the wiper elements whereby the wiper elements are clamped between corresponding plates, a first common frame member overlying the reduced end portions on each end of the top rolls, a second common frame member underlying the reduced end portions on each end of the bottom rolls, each of the frame members having a plurality of brackets thereon, means securing the outer ends of the plates to the brackets carried by the corresponding frame members, an upper hood having a wall spaced above and overlying the medial portions of the top rolls, a lower hood having a wall spaced below and underlying the medial portions of the bottom rolls, resilient means disposed between the wall of the lower hood and at least one of the lower plates for urging the lower wiper elements into engagement with the lower proximal portions of adjacent pairs of bottom rolls, the rear ends of said hoods being open, side flanges on the upper hood extending downwardly, side flanges on the lower hood extending upwardly, the side flanges on the upper and lower hoods terminating adjacent the opposite ends of the enlarged medial portions of the corresponding rolls, air-sealing means disposed on the inner surface of each of the side flanges and engaging the corresponding ends of the enlarged portions of the rolls and engaging the corresponding ends of said wiper elements, closure means closing the front end of each hood, front wiper elements secured to each of said closure means, said front wiper element on the upper hood engaging the upper front portion of the foremost of the top rolls, said front Wiper element on the lower hood engaging the lower front portion of the foremost of the bottom rolls, spring means urging the hoods toward each other at the front ends thereof, a duct carried by each of said hoods and having its front end communicating with the front end of the corresponding hood, and means for creating suction currents in said ducts to thereby create suction currents within said hoods whereby lint and other fibers removed from the top and bottom rolls by the wiper elements are carried away through said ducts by the means for creating suction currents in said ducts.

13. In a drafting mechanism having sets of serially arranged spaced driven top and bottom rolls, each of the top and bottom rolls having an enlarged medial portion and having reduced end portions; the combination of a plurality of pliable upper wiper elements each disposed between and engaging the proximal upper portions of adjacent top rolls, pliable lower wiper elements each disposed between and engaging the proximal lower portions of adjacent bottom rolls, a wiper support bar extending longitudinally of each of the wiper elements and engaging the proximal surfaces of adjacent upper and lower wiper elements, a rigid plate engaging the outer surface of each of said wiper elements, means securing said plates to the corresponding support bars whereby each wiper element is clamped between the corresponding plate and support bar, a projection on the inner surface of each end of each of the support bars and extending outwardly therebeyond, a first common frame member disposed adjacent each side of the medial portions of the top rolls, a second common frame member disposed adjacent each side of the medial portions of the bottom rolls, said frame members having a plurality of brackets on the proximal surfaces thereof, means adjustably securing the outer ends of the projections on the support bars to the brackets carried by the corre sponding frame members, an upper hood spaced above and overlying the medial portions of the top rolls, a lower hood spaced below and underlying the medial portions of the bottom rolls, resilient means disposed between the lower hood and at least one of the lower plates for urging the lower wiper elements into engagement with the lower proximal portions of adjacent bottom rolls, the rear ends of said hoods being open, side flanges on the proximal portions of said hoods, the side flanges on the upper and lower hoods terminating adjacent the opposite ends of the enlarged medial portions of the corresponding rolls, air-sealing means disposed on the inner surface of each of the side flanges and engaging the corresponding ends of the enlarged portions of the rolls and engaging the corresponding ends of said wiper elements, means closing the front ends of said hoods, an upper front wiper element on the front end of the upper hood and engaging the upper front portion of the foremost of the top rolls, a lower front wiper element on the front portion of the lower hood and engaging the lower front portion of the foremost of the bottom rolls, resilient means urging the hoods toward each other at the front ends thereof, a duct carried by each of said hoods and having its front end communicating with the front end of each hood, and means for creating suction currents in said ducts to thereby create suction currents within said hoods whereby lint and other fibers removed from the top and bottom rolls by the wiper elements are carried away through said ducts by the means for creating suction currents in said ducts.

14. In a drafting mechanism having serially arranged spaced sets of driven top and bottom rolls, and each of the top and bottom rolls having an enlarged medial portion and reduced end portions; in combination, at least one upper wiper element disposed between and engag ing the proximal upper portions of the enlarged portions of a pair of adjacent top rolls, at least one lower wiper element disposed between and engaging the proximal lower portions of the enlarged portions of an adjacent pair of bottom rolls, said upper wiper element resting upon the corresponding pair of top rolls by gravity, resilient means urging the lower wiper element upwardly against the lower proximal portions of the bottom rolls,

an upper hood overlying the top rolls and having a wall spaced above the upper wiper element, a lower hood underlying the bottom roll and having a wall spaced below the lower wiper element, said top and bottom hoods having respective side flanges thereon projecting toward each other and being disposed closely adjacent opposite ends of the enlarged medial portions of the corresponding rolls, means on the proximal surfaces of the side flanges of each of the hoods to effect an air-seal be tween the enlarged medial portions of the corresponding rolls and the flanges, said upper and lower wiper elements being of a length corresponding substantially to the length of the medial portions of the corresponding rolls, one end of each of the hoods being open and the other ends thereof being closed, said walls of the hoods each being provided with an opening therein, a duct for each of said hoods communicating with the opening in the wall of the corresponding hood, and means for creating suction currents in said ducts whereby any fibers dislodged by the wiper elements will be carried into the hoods and drawn away through the corresponding duct.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 908,341 Shipp Dec. 29, 1908 927,668 Moorhead July 13, 1909 2,077,283 Taylor Apr. 13, 1937 2,289,753 Capstaif July 14, 1942 2,425,576 Thoma Aug. 12, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 393,494 France Oct. 28, 1908 574,912 France Apr. 9, 1924 658,780 France Jan. 28, 1929 877,609 France Sept. 7, 1942 497,625 Belgium Dec. 16, 1950 652,311 Great Britain Apr. 18, 1951 

